Breastfeeding practices on postnatal wards in urban and rural areas of the Deyang region, Sichuan province of China

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the efforts that have been made to promote breastfeeding in China since the 1990s, there is still a very low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding. The objective of this study was to assess the current situation of infant feeding practices during the postpartum hospital stay in urban and rural areas of the Deyang region.MethodsCross-sectional sampling was used in two urban hospitals and five rural clinics in the Deyang region of southwestern China. Interviews with mothers after delivery (urban n = 102, rural n = 99) were conducted before discharge and five focus group discussions were held.ResultsThe prevalence of Caesarean section was high in both urban and rural areas (63.9 % urban vs. 68.4 % rural). After birth, nearly all mothers (98.0 % urban vs. 99.0 % rural) initiated breastfeeding. One week after delivery, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 8.0 % (9.8 % urban vs. 6.1 % rural), almost exclusive breastfeeding 34.5 % (29.4 % urban vs. 39.8 % rural), mixed feeding 56.0 % (58.8 % urban vs. 53.1 % rural), and exclusive formula feeding 1.5 % (2.0 % urban vs. 1.0 % rural).Breastfeeding initiation (≤ two days after birth) was positively associated (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.97, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] 1.11, 3.50) with exclusive and almost exclusive breastfeeding, whereas birth length under 50 cm (OR 0.48, 95 % CI 0.26, 0.87), mother’s education > 12 years (OR 0.46, 95 % CI 0.24, 0.88) and mother’s lack of knowledge about the importance of colostrum (OR 0.35, 95 % CI 0.14, 0.86) were negatively associated with almost exclusive breastfeeding.ConclusionAlthough disparities between urban and rural areas exist, the situation of infant feeding is inadequate in both settings. The high prevalence of Caesarean section, the mothers’ poor knowledge of the physiology of breast milk production, the mothers’ lack of breastfeeding confidence, the widespread advertising of breast milk substitutes, and the changing perception of the function of breasts, may influence the unfavorable breastfeeding behavior observed in the study area.

Maternal nutritional status and child feeding practices: a retrospective study in Santal communities, Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

“…Perceived insufficiency of breastmilk was mentioned by 13 women (4.6%) as reason for making use of other milk substitutes in addition to breastmilk, similarly 5.7% named insufficient breastmilk as decisive point of introducing CF. Consistent with this finding perceived insufficiency of milk was a major reason for non-exclusive breastfeeding, or delayed initiation of breastfeeding in other Indian studies [55][56][57], and has been also shown to be a major reason for low ExcBF rates among Chinese mothers [58].…”

Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice among migrant and non-migrant mothers in urban China: results from a cross-sectional survey

“…Some of the previous studies used knowledge scores on breastfeeding benefits as a predictor of breastfeeding practice, but they failed to provide consistent evidence on its association with EBF. 11 18 However, we only focused on the key message that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. This implies that future education intervention projects should pay more attention to disseminating core messages in promoting optimal breastfeeding practices.…”

“…Previous literature in China disclosed the disparities in breastfeeding practices between urban and rural areas, 3 11 employed and unemployed mothers, 12 Han and other minority groups, 13 and highly educated and less-educated mothers. 14 A wide range of individual, sociodemographic, cultural, psychosocial and environmental factors had been identified as risk factors of EBF in China, 15 16 such as maternal and child characteristics, 12 13 17–19 support from family members and friends, 18 20 21 maternity facility education, support and practice 11 17 19 22 as well as breastfeeding intention. 18 Yet, few studies have examined the difference in breastfeeding practice and its predictors among migrant and non-migrant mothers in China.…”

The influence of a community-level breast-feeding promotion intervention programme on breast-feeding practices in Myanmar

“…It is therefore important to understand how best to target education activities for women who live in both urban and rural areas for breastfeeding practices. Other studies in Asia have also found higher levels of exclusive breast-feeding in rural compared with urban areas (27,33) . This could be related to labour force participation, as other studies have found that women who occupied management/supervisory jobs were more likely Table 2 Breast-feeding rates among 18-49-year-old women with a child under 2 years of age according to receipt of a community-level breast-feeding promotion intervention on breast-feeding practices, Myanmar, August-September 2016 Analysis time (months) Survival probability Fig.…”